Whether large or small it isn’t uncommon to see or have tattoos in society today. In fact, data dated 2014 tells us that about every 1 in 7 Australians has a tattoo! You can only imagine what the figures are now.
Because tattoos are created by ink under the skin it raises the question: Do tattoos have any influence on skin cancer and skin cancer checks? The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners offers some interesting information on this topic.
Skin Cancer Detection with Tattoos
Our article https://qutis.com.au/2022/09/how-to-identify-concerning-spots/ can be used to help identify concerning spots in-between skin checks. However, people with tattoos should also take into consideration the following:
“Detection by patients and their friends may be delayed if the lesion is masked by a tattoo. For health practitioners, macroscopic assessment can be challenging. For examples, the ugly duckling sign is a mole that appears to be different from all others on the body but may become less visible when moles are surrounded by tattoos. This is of particular importance in high-risk patients with a history of melanoma or dysplastic naevus syndrome. This risk is magnified by the presence of extensive sleeve tattoos. Skin surveillance may additionally be influenced by the tattoo ink colour, and, possibly, detection is more difficult with dark coloured, compared with light coloured, tattoos. Dermoscopy assessment is also interrupted as the tattoo ink and its colour may mask some of the signs for interpretation.” says the article ‘Diagnostic difficulties in skin cancer detection within tattoos’ at https://www.racgp.org.au/.
“A man aged 65 years, who had a past history of three malignant melanomas, returned to the dermatologist for melanoma surveillance. He reported no new lesions of concern. On careful inspection of a tattoo on his left deltoid, a pale pink papule was identified (Figure 1).”
“Figure 1. Tattoo in Case 1
A. Macroscopic image of tattoo on left deltoid.
B. Lesion marked on closer macroscopic view.“
https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2014/october/diagnostic-difficulties-in-skin-cancer-detection-w
Take action
Simply put, tattoos can mask concerning spots, possibly making them more difficult to detect early. To ensure that you look after your skin, make an extra effort in looking for spots within tattoos, if applicable. If you have family history of skin cancer, or are at high risk, do your research and maybe even discuss the affects with your doctor.
Regular skin checks, for anyone, are key in early skin cancer detection and prevention. Book your skin check with one of our reliable skin check GP’s at Qutis today!
Source: https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2014/october/diagnostic-difficulties-in-skin-cancer-detection-w
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